Ridge

  Chapter 16

  The day grew into night as Ridge paced the waiting room. Several people moved into the room with pillows and blankets. It looked to be a long night. As the last visiting chance came and went without an invitation, Chase stood up and stretched.

  "Come on Ridge. Let's head home and you can come back in the morning."

  "I'm not leaving until I see her, can reason with her. I need to tell her something."

  "The next visitation isn't until in the morning. You can't sleep here Ridge." Maggie pleaded but deep down she knew he wasn't budging.

  "I've slept in less inviting situations. You two go home and I'll see you tomorrow."

  "Alright brother, one of us will be back tomorrow. What do you need from the house?"

  "A change of clothes would be nice, thanks." He said as he laid his head back on the wall.

  "Let us know if there's any change." Maggie said as she hugged him and followed Chase to the elevator.

  One of the nurses brought him a pillow and blanket. Since it was a large waiting room he was able to stretch out. Sleep didn't come easy, but sometime after midnight he slipped into a fitful sleep. He woke with a start when someone tapped his shoulder. His heels were dug in deep on this matter.

  "Mr. Cauthen." The nurse said. "She's asking for you now."

  He glanced at his watch and saw it was after three in the morning. Her timing was wonderful, but he'd take whatever he could get.

  "Thank you." He said as he stood and adjusted his clothes.

  "I'm glad you get a chance to talk. It's apparent the love you have for her. All of the nurses are hoping everything works out." When he gave her an odd look, she continued. "We're hopeless romantics what can I say." She smiled and opened the double doors.

  He tensed up as they walked to a glass wall that faced the large nurse station. She walked through the door and motioned for him to follow. Was he ready for this?

  The moment he saw her, his heart went to the floor. Her face was swollen and bruised. She had tubes connected to her. Tears welled in his eyes as he took in the woman he loved. All he wanted to do was take the hurt and put it inside of him.

  "Hi." She said in a gravelly voice, tears clinging to her lashes. It was apparent that she'd been crying.

  Closing the distance between them, he sat down in the chair beside her bed. She looked beautiful even with all the paraphernalia around her. "How are you? Can I get you anything?"

  "I'm making it, but with the aid of pain meds." Her head turned and she took in his uniform. He looked really good and her heart skipped a beat. "How did you do with the eulogy?"

  "I didn't make too big of an idiot of myself. It was hard, but I made it through." He watched her hand lying on the bed. Reaching up he gently grasped it. "I'm sorry this happened to you."

  "It's not your fault Ridge." She knew the look of guilt that filled his eyes.

  "If I'd acted better that day under the tree then you wouldn't have ran to Florida. I'm an idiot. Will you ever forgive me?" His eyes met hers and they held for a long moment.

  "I shouldn't have pushed you so hard. Remember, I said some nasty things too. Here I was telling you I'd be patient and I tried to push you." Turning her hand over in his, she linked her fingers in his.

  "Can we start over?"

  "No, I don't want to start over, but I do want to move past the bad and continue the good." A slow smile spread across her face.

  "I've been so foolish. Here you were trying to help me and all I did was push you away." Leaning up he kissed her lips lightly. Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked up at him. "Can you forgive me?"

  The answer didn't come quickly as she stared into his eyes. "I'll forgive you if you'll promise me one thing?" She arched her brow at him.

  His heart jumped in his chest. What kind of promise did she want from him? "What promise?"

  "Will you promise that you'll get therapy?" When he started to turn away she tightened her grip. "I'm serious Ridge. You need help because I see a storm brewing in your eyes. The only way to stop it is to get help." She wouldn't back down on this.

  Closing his eyes as the truth of her words hit home. He'd put it off for way too long and he didn't want to chance losing her again. Slowly he opened his eyes. "I'll go to the base as soon as you get out of the hospital." Squeezing her hand lightly he smiled a smile that actually showed in his eyes.

  "Thank you. It's the only way we can make a go at this. I can't handle the revolving door that's been plaguing us every time we're together."

  "Can I ask something of you in return?"

  The look of confusion on her face made him grin. "I guess so." She said with a small voice.

  "The doctor said you'll need to heal before you go back to work. Since you don't have any family here and will need someone to care for you, I'm moving into your apartment until you're back on your feet."

  Her eyes grew large with surprise, but then she was shaking her head. "That wouldn't be a good idea." She couldn't just let him move into her apartment.

  "You have two bedrooms right?" When she nodded he continued. "Well it's settled. I can help you get to therapy and cook your meals."

  "But what about your part of the work on the ranch?"

  "I have three brothers and a sister to help fill in."

  The sky was turning a light purplish pink just outside the window. Ridge looked up and noticed how beautiful things looked when you were in love. That subject would have to wait until they'd worked some things out, but deep down he knew she was the one.

  Contented she slipped back into sleep as he sat down in the chair beside the bed. Things were looking up for them. Maybe now he could get past the memories.

  A tap on his shoulder woke him from a deep sleep just after sunrise. He looked up to see a doctor standing in front of him. "I need to examine Mallory. Would you mind stepping out to the waiting room?"

  He sat up and looked over to see the smile on Mallory's face. "I'll be back soon."

  "We'll move her into a regular room this morning."

  "That's good news." He stretched as he walked out the double doors.

  The waiting room was empty when he walked in. Reaching up he rubbed his face and felt the morning stubble. The smell of coffee drew him back out into the hall.

  "Could you tell me where the coffee is?" He asked the nurse sitting at the desk.

  "They just made a fresh pot down at the snack bar. It's down the hall to the right just past the elevators." She smiled sweetly before returning to the chart in front of her.

  "Thanks." Before he walked off he turned back to her. "If the doctor comes out to find me could you tell him I'll be back in just a few minutes?"

  "No problem Mr. Cauthen." All of the nurses were well aware of the handsome soldier that hadn't left his lady. The romance of the situation made them swoon with envy.

  He found the snack bar with no problem. Reaching in his pocket he withdrew change for the hot food machine. Nothing looked appetizing, but if he could eat mess hall food, then this should digest just fine. After he'd grabbed a bacon and egg biscuit from the machine and his coffee, he headed back to the waiting room.

  Chase met him at the doorway. "Hey brother, how's Mallory?"

  "She's better, just really stove up. The doctor is in with her." He took a long sip of the hot coffee making a face as the taste hit his tongue. "This is a bad excuse for coffee."

  "Good thing I brought you breakfast then." He pointed to the coffee and sack sitting on the table in the waiting room.

  "Oh you're a lifesaver. Thanks bro." He sat down and opened the sack to find two ham biscuits.

  "I take it from the smile on your face that she finally let you in to see her."

  "Around three this morning she told the nurse to let me in. We discussed everything and hopefully things are back on track. When the doctor releases her I'm moving in with her until she's back on her feet."

  His brother grinned, whistling under his breath. "You work fast d
on't you?" He gave his brother a slap on his shoulder.

  "It's not like that." The warning look he gave him only fueled the fire.

  "Oh I bet. Was she on board with this living arrangement?"

  "Not at first, but I explained that I'd be in a separate room, it's totally innocent." He took a large bite of the mouthwatering biscuit. "This is great, thanks again. I was starving."

  "When are they moving her to a regular room?"

  "This morning and maybe she can go home tomorrow."

  Chase stayed long enough to go in to see Mallory. Since he had business in Atlanta, he headed out just before they moved her to the private room. Before he left, Ridge was relieved when he handed him a bag with a change of clothing and his shaving bag. "You need a shave badly." He winked at his brother and left.

  They moved Mallory to a room on the other end of the floor she was on. The room was better than the ICU room. Ridge changed his clothes and shaved. When he came back out he felt better.

  The day went by slowly as they sat talking and watching television. He took great care of her as he jumped up everything she groaned. One time she laughed at him. "I'll be alright. You don't have to jump every time I move."

  The next morning Chase came back to pick them up. He met them in front of the hospital and helped get her into the truck.

  "We'll need to go by the drug store on the way back into town. They've prescribed her an antibiotic and pain meds." Ridge said as he climbed into the passenger seat.

  "I'll carry you guys to her apartment and go back for the prescriptions. She'll probably need to get straight home."

  The doctor gave her some pain meds before she left so all the way home she slept. Ridge carried her into the apartment and straight to her room as Chase brought in her bag.

  "I'll be back in a bit. Do you need anything else while I'm gone?" He looked down at Mallory's pale face.

  "I'd love a greasy cheeseburger and fries." She tried to grin, but the pain was returning.

  "A woman after my own heart." He winked and walked out to his truck.